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Bead of the Week

Just perfect for your Halloween creations -- these Red Agate Evil Eye beads are of stone that was formed from layers of silica from volcanic cavities. Agate is named after the Achates River (now known as the Dirillo River) on the island of Sicily, Italy, whose upper waters were an ancient source of this gemstone. Each strand offered here has 16 round faceted beads, with colors ranging from red to amber, as shown. Each bead is approx. 10 mm. with an approx. 2 mm. hole. Each strand is $10, but for a limited time, take 10% off with the code HALLOWEEN at checkout.

B is for BEADS!

Though I'll normally feature more specific information about types of beads/gemstone in this blog, I would be remiss not to use today as a 'B is for BEADS' opportunity, and talk about the general history of beads. Archeologists and bead historians have affirmed that the use of beads may go back up to 100,000 years ago! Practices involving beads include body adornment, spiritual ceremonies, currency, art, and enterprise. From the primitive beads fashioned of bones, tusks, nuts, and more in the Stone Age, to the incredible array of materials used today for beads ranging from the mundane to the sublime (clay, grass, plastic - and gold, diamond, gemstone), woman-kind and man-kind have created an ever-evolving universe of materials, designs, and colors for their creations. For a phenomenal resource on beads, their types, uses, history, and associated techniques, check out The Illustrated Bead Bible by Theresa Flores Geary, Ph.D. You can find it on Amazon.com and it's a great investment if you're as fascinated by the world of beading as I am.